It doesn’t matter if the Seaway International Bridge remains closed or is now open, there are bigger issues.

It’s interesting that the federal Safety Minister Peter Van Loan has been quoted as saying the bridge will remain closed until the dissenting Mohawks back down and realize that border crossing guards are going to carry guns. I don’t know if the border guards need guns. I know occasionally everyone runs into a guard at one spot or another that makes you wonder how to heck they got the job in the first place. Attitude, attitude, attitude. They’re the ones that make everyone out to be a godless, smuggling terrorist until proven otherwise. So maybe there is room for negotiation here between the Mohawks and the federal government.

The real issue is that had any other group of people pulled this same trick, that blockade would have be down and dispersed in hours because it’s against the law. As I understood it, it’s one law for all and I don’t recall there being any exceptions. Frankly, because it’s First Nations people, everyone hems and haws and tries to bend over backwards. Nobody wants to start a fight. Again, had it been anyone else, there wouldn’t have been time to start a fight. Authorities would have moved in, cleared the area, dispersed the crowd, and arrested those responsible and charged them accordingly.

Can you spell “Caledonia?”

That standoff has been going on for what, three years now and there is still no settlement and blockages are still in effect in that community and now there’s talk of some residents getting together to mete out some vigilante justice. Now that’s just plain nasty and could get way out of hand. Let’s hope it doesn’t come to that.

But how is our problem any different than that? Actually I think ours is worse. An international link with the United States has been cut off. You’ve already heard the stories about people who can’t get to work, kids who can’t get to school and just generally how tourists who may not necessarily visit the area because the bridge is closed. There are lots of other bridges that are open so tourists may use them and then stay right in that area to spend their vacation dollars.

This standoff has to come to an end, followed by some sincere negotiations to solve any problems and alleviate any concerns as best as both sides can.

By the time you read this, the voting will be over for the leader of the Ontario Progressive Conservatives (unless you’re reading this on Thursday which is the last day of voting.) It will be a numbers game primarily because no one really jumps out as having the charisma and leadership qualities to bring the Tories back from the hinterland. But perhaps I judge too harshly and those talents will be learned on the job. With the voting done, it’s now time for the announcement of the winner which takes place on Saturday, June 27. My prediction: Tim Hudak, MPP for Niagara West-Glanbrook. He’s saying all the right things at the right time on subjects that matter to all us, such as job creation, putting a face on the provincial taxpayer and one of his biggest jobs of all as leader of the party—is to create the party that has been in a shambles for years. This scenario played out once before and Mike Harris stepped up to the plate with his Common Sense Revolution. I know, I know, a lot of people are groaning at what the revolution was all about but there were two solid terms of office and the Conservatives did a lot for the province during that time. Mike Harris likes Tim Hudak as well. He’s your next leader.

If I was a card-carrying Conservative I would have liked to vote for Frank Klees because I have worked with him in the past and I liked his style. I have personally talked to all of the leadership candidates in the past two weeks and they’re all good people, but you can only have one winner. When I asked Klees about his support of faith-based schools in that ill-fated platform during the last election, he said it was behind him and it was time to move on—the people have spoken. Trouble is the people wouldn’t see it that way. Klees is correct when he says not only is the party picking its next leader but the person must be able to win the next election as well. The Conservatives have a long way to go before that happens.

Christine Elliott has had to defend that she’s married to federal Finance Minister Jim Flaherty. I still haven’t figured out what to hell difference that makes but then I’ve been accused on more than one occasion that I just don’t get it sometimes.

Randy Hillier is one of the good old boys. He tells it like it is and is the most likely of the four to “insert foot before engaging brain.” He’s just a grass-roots type of guy that says what he thinks and will serve his riding and the party well. He will not be leader.

Tim Hudak; Christine Elliott; Frank Klees; Randy Hillier. Results in that order pretty much the same way they’ve been all campaign.

By the way, does anybody else see the resemblance between Hudak and movie star actor Michael Keaton?

Did you see Dick Aubry’s column on May 28 (first time I’ve had a chance to comment)? It’s hilarious on the good, the bad and the ugly on TV—boy he watches a lot of TV!

Can you believe it? Before the next edition of Seaway News hits the streets it will be July. Happy Canada Day to all. See you at the park.

I’m John Divinski.